Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-26

tangible thing. There was no breathing
space between the day and night, no soft
tranSformation-scene, for in these atitudes
twilight does not exist. The change from
day to night is so quick and as absolute as
the change from life to death. The sun sank
and the world was wreathed in shadows.
But not for long, for see in the east there is
a glow, then bent edge of silver light and
at last the full bow of the crescent moon
peeps above the plain and shoots its gleam-
ing arrows far and wide, filling the earth
with faint refulgence, as the glow of a
good mans deeds shine for while upon his
little world after his sun has set, lighting
the traveller to a fuller dawn.
We stood and watched the lovely sight,
whilst the stars grew pale before this
chastened majesty, and felt our hearts lifted
up in the presence of a beauty we could not
realize, much less describe. Mine had been
a rough life, my reader hut there are few
things | am thankful to have lived for, and
one of them is to have seen that moon rise
over Kukuanaland. Presently our medita-
tions were broken in upon by our polite
friend InfadOos.
IF my lords are ready we Will journey on
to Loo where hut is made ready for my
lords tonight. The moon is now bright, SO
that we shall not fall on the way"
We assented, and in an hours time were
at the outskirts of the town, of which the
extent, mapped out as it was by thousands
of camp-fres, appeared absolutely endless.
Indeed, Good, who was always fond OF
bad joke, christened it unlimited Loo
Presently we came to q m0at with draw
bridge where we were met by the rattling
of arms and the hoarse challenge of sentry.
InfadOos gave some password that | could
not catch, which was met with salute, and
we passed on through the central street OF
the great grass city. After nearly half an
hours tramp past endless lines of huts, In
fad0os at last halted at the gate of q little
group of huts which surrounded small
courtyard of powdered limestone, and in
formed us that these were to be our poor
quarters.
We entered, and found that a hut had
been assigned TO each of us. These hutS
were superior to any which we had yet seen,
and in each was a most comfortable bed
made of tanned skins spread upon mattress
es of aromatic grass. Food, too, was ready
for US, and as soon as we had washed our
selves with water, which stood ready in
earthenware jars, some young women of
handsome appearance brought us roasted
meat and meale cobs dantiy served on
~ edsa aiatters AID peesetitcd 80 Us 1itlA
deep obeisances.
We ate and drank, and then the beds hay
ing by our request been all moved into ono
+ hut. q precautOn ut which the amabie
i young ladies smiled, we flung ourselves
down to sleep, thoroughly wearied out with
] our long journey.
! When we woke, it was to find that the sun
was high in the heavens and that the female
+ attendants WHO did not seem to be troubled
by any false shame, were already standing
inside tha hut. having been orlerad to at
tend and holpus to 'laake ready"
Make ready, indeei.2 growled Good,
"When one has flannel shirt anl a pair oil
boots, that does not take long. | wish 3oa
would ask them for my trousers
| asked accordingly but was informed
that these sacred relics had already been
taken to the king, who would see us in tie
forenoon.
Having somewhat to their establishment
and disappointment, requested the young
ladies to step outside, we proceeded to make
the best toilet that the circumstances admit
ted Of. Good eyen went the length OF again
shaving the right side OF his face; the left,
on which now appeared very fair crop OF
whiskers we impressed upon him he must
on no account touch. AS for ourselves, we
were contented with Il good wash and comb
ing our hair Sir IIenry's yellow locks were
now almost down to his shoulders, and he
looked more like an ancient Dane than ever,
while my grizzled scrub was fully an inch
long. instead Of half an inch, which in Il
general way | considered my maximum
length.
By the time that we had eaten our break
fast, and smoked a pipe a message was
brought to Us by no less q pefsonage titan In
fadoos himself that TWala, the king, was
ready to see US, if we would be pleased to
come.
We remarked in reply that we should pre-
fer to wait TILL the sun Was a little higher we
were yet weary with our journey ETC., etc
It IS always well, when dealing with unclvl-
lized people, not to be in toe great hurry
They are apt to mistake p0llteness Tor awe
OIL. seryfity. So. although we were quite as
anxious to see Twala as Twala could bo te
see us we sat down and waited for an hour
employing the interval in preparing such
/
mitted-namely, the Winchester rifle which
had been used by poor Ventyogel, and some
beads. TIE rifle and ammunition we deter
mined to present to his royal highness, ant
the beads were for his wives and courtiers
t We had already given few to mfadooS ant
Scragga, and found that they were delighted
with them, never having seen anything like
them before. At length we declared that W.
: were ready, and guided by Infadoos, started
off to the levee, Umbopa carrying the rlti'
and beads.
: After walking few hundred yards, W.
came to an inclosure, something like tina
which surrounded the huts that had been al
lotted to us, only fifty times as big. 1t coulC
L not have been less than six or seven acres il
extent. All around the outside fence was ;
I row of huts, which were the habitations 0
g the Kings wives. Exactly opposite tn
I, gateway, on the further side of the opel
I space, was very large hut, which stood b,
itself, in which his majesty resided. All tin
IS rest was open ground, that is to say, it woul'
Q have been open had it not been filed b.
y company after company of warriors, VIII
were mustered there to the number OF sevel
. or eight thousand. These men stood still a
e statues as we advanced through them, and /
Q would be impossible to give an idea OF tn
grandeur of the spectacle which they pre-